How to DIY a home-made balance scale?

[TiercelR]

-Hi to everybody:
-Some years ago, I was readed in the book: "Falconry" by Humphrey ap Evans a description about how DIY a home-made balance scale.
-Some one have planes, pictures & instructions of these home-made balance scales?
-Please, put here all these info.
-Thank you very much in advance.
-Have a good falconry!

[Hawkmaster]

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to buy new or secondhand ones?

[TiercelR]

-Hawkmaster:
-Sure, this are a reasonable option. Though is interesting the description of a very cheapest and easy to made of the balance of Humphrey ap Evans.
-I want to made at least a balance of this type, Hawkmaster have you seen a home-made balance like this? Humphrey ap Evans don´t put in his book any image of these DIY balances.
-Thank you for your reply.
-Have a good falconry!

[Hawkmaster]

No unfortunately not!

[Xantara]

you might save a few shillings but could cost your bird a lot more if u get it wrong init

[FlameHairedFalconer]

I have converted balance type scales that I have found in junk shops, you just replace the scoop with a perch and rebalance the scales for the additional/reduced weight of the perch. I used copper coins taped to the underside of the plate where the weights sit.

Sorry no pics tho' I have a set of balance scales bought from Falcon Fayre about 10 years ago which are still going strong, having travelled the country with me and my hawks over the years. They were only £70! A bargain even at the time. ;D

Its probably worth the while investing in a good set, they should last you years. ;)

[TiercelR]

-Xantara and FlameHairedFalconer: Thank you for your comments.
-I like it especiallyment a model of balance-scale (the green one) which is showed in: www.westwealdfalconry.co.uk/ , but in this w-page is said that this type is no more available.
-You know the name of the facturer of this model of balance-scale? or you know other w-page where this model is in sale altthough this don´t have a perch but have it a plate?
-I still search this model in: scale.com but I still search this one, but maybe I can to consider another model of balance-scale.
-Thank you.
-Have good falconry!

[OhMyGod]

Think I paid £15 for some electronic kitchen scales, every day during last season I used them, I would turn on the scale then place the perch on the scale to check the weight and make sure they were correct and weighing the perch at 973g which it did every single day without a gram out! I would then zero the scale and remove the perch and sure enough the minus weight was the same every day, -973. Excellent quality scales weighing the same every day for the season in 1 gram increments for £15. What more acuracy do you need.

[TiercelR]

-OhMyGod: Thank you for your commentary.
-Is very reasonalble your comment. Maybe I was been something suspicious about the electronic-scales, almost paranoiac about this ones, but I can change my mind and also using its models.
-Have good falconry!

[OhMyGod]

make sure they go up in 1g increments and are DIGITAL

salter make good scales. but electronic scales will need to be checked daily with the same weight of a substance thet will not obsorbe water and humidity, like metal.

[TiercelR]

-OhMyGod: Thank you again for your commentary, I take note of it.
-I see one relatively cheap in westernsporting.com (where before I was buyed some books), but I don´t considere it at that time because my persistence with the classic balance-scale. Maybe I should to consider this balance. Thank you OhMyGod.
-Have good falconry!

[FlameHairedFalconer]

The scales on Brians site (westweald) can be bought from any hardware or kitchen shop, its converting them that takes the time and trouble.

FHF

[OhMyGod]

you can use just about anything, how much trouble is a bit if 4 x 4 with velcro on the bottom. my birds only sit on it for about 2 or 3 seconds.

[FlameHairedFalconer]

you can use just about anything, how much trouble is a bit if 4 x 4 with velcro on the bottom. my birds only sit on it for about 2 or 3 seconds.

Yeah, I ended up gluing my perch to my electronic scales - they were the type that zeroed themselves on switching on

FHF

[OhMyGod]

yeah so are mine. Thats why I have a removable perch so I can check it gives the same weight for the perch every day. I then zero it again and remove the perch to check the minus weight is correct also. I then place the perch on the scale and if it reads zero I place the bird on the perch. I have always been sceptical about these scales so am still convinced they are going to give a false reading. I think they have come a long way in the last few years and found new ones to be extremely accurate. For £15 - £20 it doesn't really matter if you have to get a new one after a couple of seasons if it starts reading different weights for your test weight from day to day.

but you must get ones that do 1g increments

[OhMyGod]

Also I must add,

The electronic scales you get from falconry shops have been on the market for years, and have not been upgraded to newer scales. If you go to tesco or sainsburys or whatever you should be able to find some good electronic kitchen scales for about £20 that go up in 1 gram increments, they will be new on the market and will have much newer components and technology that will be far superior to ones designed 15 years ago. These are the ones you want.

Salter make good scales of this type.

[TiercelR]

-Thank you FlameHairedFalconer & OhMyGod for your last commentaries. I take note of this remarks.
-Have good falconry!

[FlameHairedFalconer]

OMG - I just cannot use grams, just cant 'picture' the weight if you know what I mean. Thats why I like electronic scales for the small hawks as they go down to 1/8th of an ounce.

I must admit I never had any trust issues with my electronic scales. They were always accurate, but I did change the batteries obsessively!!

[OhMyGod]

1/8 oz is 3.54 g.

so if weighing small hawks of 5 or 6 oz it may be best to use grams if using electronic scales, as it will be more accurate. The electronic scales could not read inbetween these weights and could give the same reading as the day before and the bird could be 4g different. If the scales are out by one increment (3.5) and this was added to the half increment inability you could be 7g difference to the day before but the scales are reading the same.

If I were flying a musket I would weigh in grams so I could only really be 1.5 g out. Otherwise I would use a balance scale with a large degree of tip either way and use pennies or half pennies to tell when the bird is ready for flight.

I hated grams when I first started using it but after a while I found it much better than lb and oz and will never return to it. I started using g about 6 years ago when I was flying small hawks. I new nobody else who used grams at the time.

just my half pennies worth

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Its bizarre - I learnt metric at school and if cooking use grams and kilos (if I am cooking alot!!) But was taught in imperial with the hawks. Totally confused!! ;)